Peregrine Falcons first nested on Derby's Cathedral, England, in 2006. Our Peregrine Project is now run by a partnership between Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Derby City Council, Derby Cathedral and the Cathedral Quarter. Here is what's happening in 2015. . .

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Monday, 3 May 2010

Come on down (Past event)

(Please scroll down for the latest news of the chicks!!)

There was a Peregrine and Cathedral Tower Open Day today, organised by the cathedral staff, between 11am and 4pm on Monday 3rd May, with a (rare) chance to climb the tower and also to view the nest platform and the off-duty adult from Cathedral Green.

Teas/coffees were available and there was a small display about the project plus peregrine masks for childrne to colour in.

Tower tours were at 11am and 12 noon with further ones through the afternoon though the early afternoon ones may well be booked up because a school is bringing two classes along to see what's what.

There were telescopes available for you on the Green with DWT volunteers on hand to point out where the platform is, where the birds perch and hopefully a chance to see the male bring food into the female too.

Bring warm clothing because although the sun may shine and it should be dry, there's a cold wind blowing!

Don't forget to scroll down to the previous post to get all the latest news and photos of the newly arrived chick.

Two Reports on the happenings of the day are appended at the bottom of this post. Thanks to our volunteers who generously "manned" the Watchpoint during the day.

Not a great deal to report this morning unfortunately. We never saw the falcon from the ground although, as we were setting-up at about 10.30, one of the adults flew into the nest platform and wasn't seen to emerge (although we were quite busy and may have missed it leaving again). The tiercel spent two long periods sat on the J of Jury's Inn giving good views.

On the Tower Tours, we saw the remains of several prey items including Song Thrush and Little Grebe as well as seeing the tiercel fly off from Jury's Inn at about 11.45 and landing briefly on the nest platform in a rain shower at around noon before returning to his perch on the J.

Finally, to thank people for coming down and for all your donations.

Andy & Chris M.

Watchpoint Report Part 2 - 2.00pm to 4.00pm

Things remained quiet for the first part of the afternoon with the tiercel continuing to sit on the Jury's Inn sign. During a particularly heavy shower he again returned to the tower to take shelter underneath one of the arches above the nest platform for a while, before disappearing. He was later seen back on the hotel lettering. There was a steady stream of people including a large party of school children, as well as some Dutch visitors who were suitably impressed! It was also good to meet several of you who have contributed to the blog. Unfortunately from the ground it was not possible to see the exciting developments taking place on the scrape, as both falcon and chicks stayed well hidden. However, on the last tower tour we were treated to some lovely views of the newly hatched fourth chick, whilst watching the live images on the monitor in the bell ringing chamber. Perfect timing!! The chicks were fed for around ten minutes, after which the falcon then settled back down to brooding them.

Not a great deal to report this morning unfortunately. We never saw the falcon from the ground although, as we were setting-up at about 10.30, one of the adults flew into the nest platform and wasn't seen to emerge (although we were quite busy and may have missed it leaving again). The tiercel spent two long periods sat on the J of Jury's Inn giving good views.

On the Tower Tours, we saw the remains of several prey items including Song Thrush and Little Grebe as well as seeing the tiercel fly off from Jury's Inn at about 11.45 and landing briefly on the nest platform in a rain shower at around noon before returning to his perch on the J.

Feeding time. Falcon flew to the tower & got something from the cache. Tiercel flew to nestbox & had a look at chicks, then falcon came back with food & he flew off. I think I saw 4 beaks pointing upwards but I'm not 100% certain.

21.09 Just come in to see all 4 chicks being fed. I know it's nature that something has had to die in order to feed these chicks but the parent is just so amazingly gentle with them, wonderful to watch. Mesmeric.

Things remained quiet for the first part of the afternoon with the tiercel continuing to sit on the Jury's Inn sign. During a particularly heavy shower he again returned to the tower to take shelter underneath one of the arches above the nest platform for a while, before disappearing. He was later seen back on the hotel lettering. There was a steady stream of people including a large party of school children, as well as some Dutch visitors who were suitably impressed! It was also good to meet several of you who have contributed to the blog. Unfortunately from the ground it was not possible to see the exciting developments taking place on the scrape, as both falcon and chicks stayed well hidden. However, on the last tower tour we were treated to some lovely views of the newly hatched fourth chick, whilst watching the live images on the monitor in the bell ringing chamber. Perfect timing!! The chicks were fed for around ten minutes, after which the falcon then settled back down to brooding them.

@anonymousYes, I did, thanks, but I couldn't see what you meant. Could you post the link to the relevant picture, not that there is anything much we can do as these are wild birds that would never let us near them, or capture them.We have had foot-injury scares in the past which have, thankfully, resolved themselves. Sorry for not acknowledging your comment - it has been a busy and tiring weekend for us all.

Just thought I would post a link to my blog of a few photos my hubby took yesterday when we visited Derby (especially to see the Falcon) Well we managed to catch a glimpse of her back...but Nige got a fab pic of him.and boy he is beautiful...I just wanted to thank Chris (sorry can't remember the mans name) you were both so helpful. We have decided to leave it a few weeks before we visit again...but hopefully we will see you againthank you again hugs shell & Nige

Thanks to @anonymous for alerting us to a potential problem in picture on our blog dated 2010-5-2 19:33:27

However, I've checked images I've captured later and don't see any problem at all. What I think might have caused concern was the presence of white fibres or fragments of feathers under the right toes of the adult female being mistaken for nylon line wrapped around her foot. Later pictures show no such problem, though they do show the presnce of shiny white feather fragments from the prey being fed to the young chicks. We'll check future close-ups just to be absolutely sure, of course.

@AnnieF - I noticed those feathers too, they look to me very much like the turcil's feathers. Has anyone seen him lately?!?

@Anne Frank - u r right about the chicks! every time I log on they seem to be tucked under the mum falkon, or getting fed. Or sometimes just sat on their own. are they ok?? i wonder what they are saying to each other! is there a micraphone attached to the camera?

does anyone know what the smart looking tall buulding is in the distance? it looks very fancy! perhaps theres falkons on there to! lol

15:52 Unless they have swopped and I missed it; my previous message said that Dad was coming onto the chicks... I'm sorry I got it wrong, it's Mum on the chicks, Dad obviously left them. Pictures on Flickr btw. I can tell it's Mum on them becuase of the white stripe on her tail and lighter primary feathers... and it looks like Mumsy. (All point and laugh if I get it wrong)

Morning all, just saw chicks, all is looking good. At leat the nest is tidy today no large feathers knocking around apart from that 1. Glad it was a pigeon they must have had a right fill. thought i saw one of last years fleglings yesterday but can never be quite sure....BUBOO

I think those chicks turn into little trolley wheels once they're tucked up under mum, the way she moves around trying to keep them all gathered in, they won't be fluffy little white things for long, they will be pushing and shoving each other around soon, bless em'

@Craig thanks! I can see the writing on it now. it looks like it as a staue of libertie on the top! lol I wonder why they prefer to nest on the church tho? also how did the people know that the falkons would nest where the cameras are? were they just lucky or are tere lots of camreas on there?

The cameras contain specialized electromagnets which the falkons find irresistable. By pure chance, the project team had for some time thought about installing a wooden box full of gravel to enhance the tower's appearance.

They prefer the church (actually, it's a cathedral) because they love the sound of the bells.

The object on top of the hotel was indeed supposed to represent the statue of liberty but unfortunately they ran out of funds and it remains unfinished. I might be wrong but I think they now just use it as a lightning conductor.